Denmark visa photos and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Denmark issues Schengen short-stay and national long-stay visas through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Udenrigsministeriet), with the Danish Immigration Service and SIRI handling residence permits. The underlying biometric photo standard is set by the Danish National Police (Rigspolitiet) and is applied uniformly across every visa category, from tourist and business visits to study, work, and family reunification.
There is no self-service digital upload channel for the visa photo. The ApplyVisa.um.dk portal handles only form data and fee payment, after which applicants attend a VFS Global visa application centre (or a Danish embassy where no VFS centre exists) to submit the dossier and have their biometrics captured live. A physical 35×45 mm print on photo-quality paper is still required as part of the paper file and is attached to the cover letter at intake.
Enforcement is strict. VFS Global has stated that the application is not acceptable if the photograph does not comply with the prescribed format, and prints on plain home-printer paper, prints older than six months, or photos showing the subject in non-compliant pose, expression, eyewear, or headwear are routinely returned. A rejected photo means a rejected submission at the counter and a wasted appointment.
Denmark visa photo requirements
The Danish National Police set the underlying photo standard, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and VFS Global apply it to every visa category. These are the rules your appearance must satisfy in the final image.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionAdopt a neutral expression with the mouth closed and no visible teeth. A faint, closed-mouth smile is tolerated, but a fully neutral face is the safest choice.
- Eyes open and levelBoth eyes must be fully open, level, and looking straight at the camera. Red-eye is not accepted.
- Head squared to cameraFace the camera directly with the head upright. The head must not be tilted or turned, and both edges of the face must be clearly visible.
Eyewear & lenses
- EyeglassesClear prescription glasses are permitted provided the frames do not cover any part of the eyes and the lenses are free of glare and reflections.
- Tinted lensesSunglasses and tinted or coloured lenses are not accepted. Photochromic lenses must be fully clear in the photo.
Hair & facial hair
- Hair off the faceHair must not cover the eyes or eyebrows, and bangs that fall across the forehead onto the eyes are prohibited. Both edges of the face must remain visible.
- Facial shadowsHair must not cast shadows across the face. Tie back or tuck volume that would otherwise obscure facial features.
Headwear
- Religious head coveringsHats and head coverings are prohibited except when worn for religious reasons. Religious headwear is allowed only if the full face from chin to forehead and both edges of the face remain clearly visible.
- No shadow from headwearPermitted head coverings must not cast shadows on the face or obscure the hairline contour around the forehead.
Jewelry & cosmetics
- JewelryDiscreet, non-reflective jewelry is permitted as long as it does not obscure facial features. Avoid pieces that catch light from the flash.
- MakeupNatural-looking makeup is acceptable. Avoid heavy shimmer, gloss, or false lashes that distort the shape of the eyes or other features.
Clothing
- Everyday clothingWear ordinary day clothing in a colour that contrasts with a light background. Uniforms and camouflage patterns are not accepted.
Dimensions, resolution & background.
Head position & camera distance.
- Head height, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 33 mm and 36 mm (roughly 73–81% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 21 mm and 25 mm from the bottom of the photo.
- The head must be centered horizontally in the frame with a small symmetrical margin on each side.
- Both shoulders must be square to the camera and visible. Three-quarter angles or rotated torsos are not accepted.
- The full face from chin to crown must be inside the frame with proper top margin.
How recent the photo must be.
Your visa photo must have been taken within the last six months. A new photo is required sooner whenever your appearance has changed in a way that makes the old photo no longer recognizable.
You need a new photo if you’ve had…
- Facial surgery or a major change to facial structure
- A significant gain or loss of weight that visibly changes your face
- Large facial tattoos or piercings added or removed
- A gender transition that has changed your appearance
You do not need a new photo just because of…
- A new hair color
- Growing or removing a beard or moustache
- Ordinary, minor aging
- A new hairstyle that still leaves the face fully visible
Photos for infants and young children.
The Danish Police publish a single tolerance carve-out for the youngest applicants. Older children follow the standard adult rules.
Infants (under 12 months)
The Danish Police explicitly relax the expression and gaze rules for babies under one year, while keeping the framing rules intact.
- Expression toleranceThe closed-mouth requirement is relaxed for small children. A natural infant expression is accepted.
- Eyes may be closedInfants under one year are not required to have their eyes open in the photo.
- Child photographed aloneOnly the child may appear in the frame. Toys, pacifiers, bottles, supporting hands, chair backs, and other people must not be visible.
- Slight head movementSome tolerance applies to head angle for infants, but the face must still face the camera and both edges of the face must be visible.
Other things to know.
A few procedural quirks shape how the photo actually reaches the file.
No self-service upload channel
ApplyVisa.um.dk handles form data and fee payment only. There is no portal for uploading your own visa photo. The image printed on the visa vignette is captured live at the appointment, while your prepared 35x45 mm print is attached to the cover letter for the paper file.
VFS Global intake
Most applicants submit through a VFS Global visa application centre, which captures fingerprints and a live biometric photo alongside the printed photo. Where no VFS centre operates, the same dual requirement applies at the Danish embassy or consulate.
Six-month recency rule
The photo must have been taken within the last six months and must still resemble the applicant. A new photo is required after significant changes such as facial surgery, major weight change, or the addition or removal of prominent piercings or tattoos.
Bring a spare print
One physical print is officially required, but Danish missions and VFS centres advise carrying a second copy in case the first is rejected on inspection at the counter.
Take your Denmark visa photo at home in three steps.
Free to check. You only pay when you keep it.
Print-quality requirements for in-person submissions.
When you submit a printed photo at a visa application centre, the paper, finish, and ink all matter. The points below cover the standards most consular missions accept.
- Print on photographic-quality paper at 300 DPI minimum.
- Use a matte or semi-gloss finish; high-gloss can produce reflections that confuse biometric scanners.
- Do not retouch, crop, or alter the photo after printing.
- Bring at least two identical prints when the submission channel calls for paper photos.